Gyro swing



1965 c. G. JOHNSON 3,164,382

GYRO SWING Filed Jan. 11, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. cxwezs; G. c/O/V/VO/K United States Patent 3,164,382 GYRO SWING Charles G. .iohnson, Fort Worth, Tex. (R0. Box 658, Everman, Tex.) Filed Jan. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 256,824 3 Claims. it'll. 27233) This invention relates to a novel gyro swing affording swinging on a horizontal axis and rotation on a vertical axis for the rider or riders thereof.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a highly amusing swing of the kind indicated, which affords the user or users thereof opportunity for the execution of horizontal axis swinging by shifting the weight in the desired direction, the seat means of the swing being located below the horizontal axis, whereby the seat means is gravitationally returned toward a centered position; and execution of vertical axis rotation, with or without horizontal axis swinging, by pressing with the feet on a member of the swing and by the same means stopping or limiting vertical axis rotation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rugged and simple swing of the character indicated above which can be made, at relatively low cost, from readily available metal tubing and assembly accessories.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a gyro swing of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2'2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated swing comprises an elongated rectangular stand 18, composed of two similar but reversed sections each comprising a longitudinal side member 12, adapted to rest upon the ground, which merges, at its ends, into upwardly and laterally inwardly angled end bars 14, whose free ends are laterally spaced, as shown in FIG- URE 4.

The end bars 14 are spaced and connected by means of inverted V-shaped tubular couplings 18, which have rounded apices 20 and divergent downwardly extending legs 22, into which the free ends of the end bars 14 are telescoped, and secured in place, as by means of bolts or rivets 24. The apices 20 are centrally traversed by axially aligned horizontal pivot bolt assemblies 26 on which an outer ring or frame 28 is axially pivoted.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the pivot bolt assemblies comprise elongated shanks 36 which have middle fixed spacer collars 32, which engage the inward sides of the couplings 18 and nuts 34 which engage the outward sides of the couplings. The shanks 30 extend inwardly from the collars and through the outer ring 28 and have inner fixed collars 36 which engage the inward sides of the rings 28, the middle collars 32 serving to space the ring from the couplings.

The outer ring 28 is composed of two semi-circular tubes 38, having open ends 40, which are bridged by arm- 3,164,382 Fatented Jan. 5, 1965 ate tubular bridges 42 inserted in the free ends 46, which are abutted, as shown in FIGURE 5, with bolts or rivets 44 extending through the bridges 42 and the tubes 38. For the sake of strength and rigidity, the shanks 30 of the pivot bolt assemblies 26 extend through the double thickness provided by the tubes 38 and the bridges 42, on a level above the free ends of the lower tubes, whereby the outer ring 28 is pivotally supported on a horizontal axis spaced above its center of gravity.

The upper tube of the outer ring 28 has a laterally longitudinally extending safety stop 45 on one end thereof, and spaced above the adjacent pivot bolt assembly 26, and arranged to strike either side of the related coupling 18, when the outer ring 28 is swung toward a horizontal position, so as to prevent dangerously high swinging of the outer ring. The stop 45, as shown in FIGURE 5, comprises a shank 46 having a middle collar 48 engaged with the outer side of the ring 28, and a nut 50 engaged with the inner side of the ring.

As inner ring or frame 52, smaller in diameter than the outer ring 28, is formed like the inner ring and is disposed vertically within the inner ring, in a perpendicular position. Vertical axis pivot bolt assemblies 54 pivotally mount the outer ring 52 on the inner ring 28, which, as shown in. FIGURE 6, comprise shanks 56 extending through both rings and having fixed collars 58, on their lower ends, fixed middle spacer collars 59 which bear upon the top and bottom of the inner ring 28, and against the outer ring 28, and nuts 60, on their upper ends which bear against the outer side of the outer ring 28.

The inner ring 52 has a pair of fixed parallel spaced horizontal chordal tubular bars 62 extending thereacross, on a level substantially below a horizontal diameter of the inner ring, and hence below the center of gravity thereof. A pair of laterally spaced upwardly divergent vertical handle rods 64 rise between the bars 62 and are fixed, at their lower ends, as indicated at 66, to the lower part of the inner ring, at points equally spaced from the adjacent pivot bolt assembly 54, and having cross bar handles 68 on their upper ends. The bars 62 are preferably fixed to opposite surfaces of the inner ring 52, as indicated at 70.

An assembly of outer or end seats 72 are secured upon and bridge the bars 62, between the handle rods 64 and related sides of the inner ring 52, and provide seating for riders facing inwardly toward the handle rods and grasping the cross bars 68. The end seats 72 comprise flat plates having relatively wide outer end portions 74 and relatively narrow inner end portions 76. A middle seat 76 is secured to and bridges the bars 62, between the handle rods 64, for a rider facing either way. Foot rest cross bars 78 extend through the handle rods 64, adjacent their lower ends. The seating arrangement provides for the accommodation of three riders, two riders, or a single rider.

In operation, swinging of the seat assembly, on a hori zontal axis is done simply by a rider or riders shifting their weight in the desired direction. Because the seat assembly is below the center of gravity of the outer and inner rings, the outer ring 28, and hence the inner ring 52, and the seat assembly, automatically return to a centered position when the swinging impetus is no longer applied by a rider or riders.

Vertical axis rotation of the inner ring 52, relative to the outer ring 28, either with or without swinging of the inner ring 52, is accomplished simply by a rider pressing a foot against the lower part of the outer ring 28, in the desired direction.

Although there has been shown and described a preeneasee zontally aligned axes disposed above the center of gravity 7 of the outer frame, an inner open frame smaller in size than and positioned within the outer frame, said inner frame being pivoted to the top and bottom of the outer frame on aligned axes perpendicular to the horizontallyaligned axes, and a seat assembly extending across the lower part of the inner frame, said seat assembly comprising a plurality of seats disposed in aligned spaced relation with an upstanding handle rod between adjacent seats.

2. A gyro swing comprising a stand having upstanding end members, an outer open frame positioned between the end members and pivoted to the end members on hori- 'zontally-aligned axes disposed above the center of gravity of the outer frame, an inner open frame smaller in size than and positioned within the outer frame, said inner frame being pivoted to the top and bottom of the outer frame on aligned axes perpendicular to the horizontallyaligned axes, and a seat assembly extending across the lower part of the inner frame, said seat assembly comprising a pair of laterally spaced chordal horizontal bars fixed at their ends to opposed portions of the inner frame, a pair of spaced vertical handle rods fixed at their lower ends'to the bottom of the inner frame at locations spaced at opposite sides of the vertical pivot axis of the inner frame, said rods rising between the chordal bars and having cross handle bars at their upper ends, inwardly facing outer seats fixed upon the chordal bars between the handle rods and the inner frame, and a middle seat fixed upon the chordal bars between the handle rods.

3. A gyro swing comprising a stand having upstanding end members, an outer open frame positioned between the end members and pivoted to the end members on horizontally-aligned axes disposed above the center of gravity of the outer frame, an inner open frame smaller in size than and positioned Within the outer frame, said inner frame being pivoted to the top and bottom of the outer frame on aligned axes perpendicular to the horizontallyal-igned axes, and a seat assembly extending across the lower part of the inner frame, said seat assembly comprising a pair of laterally spaced chordal horizontal bars fixed at their ends to opposed portions of the inner frame, a pair of spaced vertical handle rods fixed at their lower ends to the bottom of the inner frame at locations spaced at opposite sides of the vertical pivot axis of the inner frame, said rods rising between the chordal bars and having cross handle bars at their upper ends, inwardly facing, outer seats fixed upon the chordal bars between the hande rods and the inner frame, and a middle seat fixed upon the chordal bars between the handle rods, and cross foot rest bars on the handle rods between the seat assembly and the bottom of the inner frame.

References @ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,144,206 Thompson Jan. 17, 1939 2,537,399 Doris Jan. 9, 1951 2,701,6(i4 St. Louis Feb. 8, 1955 

1. A GYRO SWING COMPRISING A STAND HAVING UPSTANDING END MEMBERS, AN OUTER OPEN FRAME POSITIONED BETWEEN THE END MEMBERS AND PIVOTED TO THE END MEMBERS ON HORIZONTALLY ALIGNED AXES DISPOSED ABOVE THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF THE OUTER FRAME, AN INNER OPEN FRAME SMALLER IN SIZE THAN AND POSITIONED WITHIN THE OUTER FRAME, SAID INNER FRAME BEING PIVOTED TO THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE OUTER FRAME ON ALIGNED AXES PERPENDICULAR TO THE HORIZONTALLYALIGNED AXES, AND A SEAT ASSEMBLY EXTENDING ACROSS THE LOWER PART OF THE INNER FRAME, SAID SEAT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SEATS DISPOSED IN ALIGNED SPACED RELATION WITH AN UPSTANDING HANDLE ROD BETWEEN ADJACENT SEATS. 